Thursday, October 24, 2013

A Personal Look at Halloween

Those of you who follow my blog know that I am a
grandmother. So, prepare yourself for some memories of the “olden days” and
happy times and some reminiscing.

I was a child of
the fifties, brought up in a normal neighborhoodin the sunny South. I have
a brother who is two years younger and a sister who was born way after the
story I will tell.

We loved
Halloween! My mother would dress us up in some amazing, homemade costume,
and we would take a brown paper grocery bag—yes, the big one—around to do our
trick or treating. We did street after street after street, and people at every
house were ready to give us candy. We would try to get as much candy as
possible.

Most years, I tried to be pretty. I went as a princess, a
gypsy, and a nice witch. My brother was a ghost, a monkey (with a tail!), and a
hobo. (Those are the ones I remember.)

In those days, there was absolutely no fear that someone
might put a razor blade in an apple or poison a cookie. There was no problem
going to every single house for blocks and blocks. Our parents went with us and
stayed at the end of the sidewalks, and we had so much fun!

When we returned home, my brother and I would sit on the
living room rug and empty our bags. We lined up similar pieces of candy and
counted them all. The funny thing is that I didn’t really like candy. It was
fun just getting it. And I wanted to have as much candy as my sweets-loving
little brother!

About the time when I was getting too big to do “little
kid things” like Halloween trick or treating, the atmosphere changed. My
parents took us only to houses where we actually knew the occupants. We found out
that some warped people didn’t like children and wanted to harm them. It was a
rude awakening.

Our family knew little about the origins of Halloween or
the occult world. We were happily ignorant and did what every other person in
our neighborhood did. We even carved a pumpkin with a happy snaggletooth grin.

I remember that our house got egged one Halloween, and we
found toilet paper on a tree one morning after. But, overall, Halloween was a
fun memory and a fun time.

Fast-forward some
forty plus years.

I understand now that Halloween:

Started as a pagan festival.

Glorifies the world of the dead.

Isn’t only about little kids dressing up and getting
candy.

Might encourage people to get into games or practices
that have to do with the occult.

Might actually endanger children’s lives, if they do
house-to-house trick or treating.

I don’t celebrate Halloween today, nor would I do it
with my children (were they little enough). I would not be happy
with them dressing up as ghosts or ghouls or witches.

Here are my
suggestions:

Let children play dress-up at home in happy costumes that
have nothing to do with death, the occult, blood, or violence—on any other day—but
not for Halloween.

Let them carve a pumpkin at a different time in the fall
with a happy look—not necessarily a face—and a candle inside.

I don’t have an alternative for trick or treat, but I
don’t see the necessity. (I never ate my candy, anyway.) Kids can be given
candies they love at another time and in less quantity. It’s healthier not to
binge on candy, anyhow.

Help your children understand that God is important, and witches and goblins are about the devil. Even
little kids can understand that. Teach them that Halloween is about death,
ugliness, and things we’re not to
think on. (Philippians 4:8)

I’ve heard of churches that have “fall festivals” on
other dates. The children dress up like Bible characters, and they learn about
the Bible stories. I really don’t have a problem with that, especially if it’s not near Halloween. (I’m personally not
in favor of “Christianizing” Halloween.) Why not do a fall festival in
September, or a Bible character dress-up in the spring?

I believe that
now, more than ever, our children need to be pointed toward the Lord. They need to understand that there is a different world out there—the world
of the occult, the devil, drugs, and evil—but not be allowed to be interested
in it. Whenever they have questions—even at Halloween time—answer them with
verses about what God says. God’s
opinion always trumps our own.

God includes witchcraft in His list of the works of the flesh. (Galatians 5:19-21)

When children
understand that all witchcraft and fascination with death and ghosts is wrong, when they understand that the
Lord wants us to meditate on the good (Philippians 4:8) and on His Word (Psalm
119:97, 99), and when they are actually grounded in God’s Word, they’ll have no
desire to delve into the other world.

Let them dress up—especially
at home—in fun costumes of their own invention. Let him put a box over his head
and be a robot, or let him make a helmet out of a watering can. Let her have a
fluffy tulle skirt and be a princess, putting on some of your necklaces. Those
things are okay. You could do face painting from time to time. How about
draping the kids with cloth and acting out a Bible story? This is clean fun,
and it should be encouraged. Children love to dress up and imagine and play
act. Some families have a “dress up box” with wigs and different “costumes” in
it, so that their kids can be imaginative—and not mess up their parents’ good
clothes.

For your obedience is come abroad unto all men.

I am glad therefore on your behalf:

but yet I would have you wise
unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.

(Romans 16:19)

Beloved, follow not that which
is evil, but that which is good.

He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

(3 John, verse 11)

Please feel free to share your ideas about Halloween. How do you handle this holiday with
your children?

I appreciate this post! I did Halloween for a few years when I was young, but my parents realized it was wrong and we stopped. And while I know some who hand out tracts with the candy, we don't even do that. We try not to be home on that night. My kids love to dress up all the time, we enjoy making pumpkin puree and roasting the seeds, and we have a Harvest Party at our church in November. Thank you for sharing so much Scripture - I think that is what is often lacking when we say that we don't celebrate Halloween.

Thank you for sharing. I believe it's important not to say "no" without a Scriptural reason. When children understand that the Lord is not pleased by whatever it is, they understand the reason why their parents have made certain decisions. :o) God bless you and the family!

Hi and welcome to In the Way! I explore many subjects, striving always to present them from a biblical viewpoint. Feel free to browse the tabs at the top for general categories. If you don't see what you're looking for, use the search button below. I'm a pastor's wife, mother of two, grandma, teacher, author, and blogger. I live in a quaint little village in the beautiful Basque region of northern Spain.

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About Me

Lou Ann is a young-thinking grandma with an infectious laugh. She rejoices in nature and other beautiful things--including people! She's an avid writer and practices several other artistic expressions, like singing when no one's listening, calligraphy, photography, and even "serious art." Lou Ann loves her Lord Jesus Christ, family, and her church.